What is drug abuse?
It is the patterned use of a drug in which the user consumes the substance in amount or with methods which are harmful to themselves or to others. Drugs most often abused include; alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, opioids among others.
Drug abuse can have a wide range of short-and long-term direct and indirect effects. These effects often depend on specific drug or drugs used, how they are taken, how much is taken and the person’s health. Short term effects can range from changes in appetite, wakefulness, blood pressure, heart rate to stroke and even death. Long term effects can include heart disease, lungs disease, cancer, mental illness among other conditions.
Long time using of drugs can lead to drug addiction a chronic relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences. All drugs that are smoked can have effects to both active and passive smokers.
Recovering from addiction can be a difficult and taxing process. Certain people are much more susceptible to addiction, as factors such as genetics or environmental issues can make substance abuse much more likely.
Prevention is key:
This may sound like a cliché but it’s nevertheless true. Prevention is the best way to keep people from becoming addicted to drugs. When it comes to drug and alcohol consumption, holding the notion that “I’ll do it only once” may prove to be quite dangerous. And for those that do it the first time, it’s equally as dangerous to say “I can stop at any time.” Many people can, but those unlucky few that can’t end up with a dependence that spirals out of control.
Experimenting with drugs and alcohol can lead to addiction that may ruin the physical and mental health of an individual. Staying away from drugs and alcohol is the only way to positively prevent drug addiction.
How to say no to drugs
While it’s difficult to prevent someone from taking drugs, there are certain things that each one of us should remember to prevent drug addiction.
Clearly, not every person that tries alcohol or drugs will become addicted to them. Many people drink alcohol socially without having a problem with it. The same goes for recreational drugs. But some people have underlying factors such as genetics, mental health disorders, and other issues, that serve as a stimulus for relying on drugs or alcohol to get them through the day. The day becomes a week, and then a month, and before they know it, they need to self-medicate to get through life.
Nobody knows whether they can handle a little recreational experimentation with substances or if it will overtake them until it’s too late. So again, the best way to avoid addiction is to prevent it from becoming a problem by abstaining from the beginning.
There are, however, several effective ways to prevent drug addiction.
Here are some tips on how to stop addiction before it even starts.
- Learn to Deal with Life’s Pressures
The inability to deal with normal life pressures is one of the major reasons that drive people to drugs and alcohol. For many people, drug and alcohol consumption is a way to escape the harsh realities of life. Learning to cope with life’s pressures will go a long way when it comes to stay away from drugs and alcohol. - Don’t Give in to Peer Pressure
Some people, particularly teenagers and young adults, experiment with drugs just to portray a cool image in front of others. They do it to fit in among their circle of friends. Some wrongly believe that doing drugs or consuming alcohol will make them more acceptable and popular with others. Not giving into peer pressure can and will prevent drug addiction. - Develop Close Family Ties
Research indicates that people who share a close relationship with their families are less likely to become drug addicts. The guidance and support provided by the family makes it easier for a person to deal with life pressures and stay away from all types of harmful substances. The same is true for having a close relationship with good friends that are responsible and trustworthy.
Develop Healthy Habits
Eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly is another way of preventing drug and alcohol addiction. Being healthy and active makes it easier for people to deal with life stresses. This in turn, reduces the temptation to rely on drugs and alcohol to deal with stress. A healthy diet and regular exercise promotes feel good chemicals in the brain.
Seek therapy or counseling.
It is not at all uncommon to experience feelings of depression. Many people experience highs and lows that can be difficult to cope with. Drug users often are people who are attempting to self-medicate for their psychological issues.
The problem is that drugs do not treat mental issues themselves. They simply treat the symptoms. Working through problems with a mental health professional is a much more effective and long-lasting way of treating a psychological or emotional problem.